A NEW memorandum requires members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to maintain their weight before they would be allowed to undertake further studies for promotion.
PNP officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Archie Gamboa said he was about to sign the memorandum, which specifies a certain body mass index (BMI) requirement.
"Pipirmahan ko na ‘yung (memorandum) na kapag hindi ka compliant sa BMI (requirement), you will be denied schooling, na up until you comply to the BMI requirements, that’s the only time na (that) you can go to schooling,” he said in a press conference.
BMI refers to a person's weight divided by the square of his/her height. A high BMI can indicate high body fatness.
Gamboa said that aside from performing their duties, policemen also have the responsibility to take care of their health.
“It’s very important. We want all policemen to internalize itong BMI requirement natin (this BMI requirement),” he said.
“It’s initiated to introduce healthy lifestyle and inculcate personal responsibility on fitness. The BMI compliance is also implemented side by side with suggested diet plans,” he added.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, policemen are required to participate in an aerobic exercise led by Gamboa in Camp Crame.
Gamboa urged his men to also use the PNP grandstand for exercise.
PNP personnel have regularly been reminded to stay fit since Senator Panfilo Lacson first took the helm at the PNP. Lacson had required the men to maintain a waistline of 34 inches.
Another former PNP chief who is also a senator now, Ronald dela Rosa, said a bulging stomach indicates poor police training. (SunStar Philippines)